Wednesday 22nd March (30 species - 110 for year)
My first visit this year to one of my favourite bird watching spots - Old Lodge Nature Reserve on Ashdown Forest. No matter what time of the year you visit, there's usually something good to see.
Thank goodness the wind had dropped today, but it was still rather chilly,
The top path was fairly quiet until two birds popped up on top of a small tree - woodlarks. As I headed down the hill past the paddocks, a nuthatch called loudly from the top of a nearby tree and a jay was by the pond. in the valley, a couple of overflying fieldfare reminded me that winter wasn't quite over yet.
Scanning the nearby fields revealed at least four soaring buzzards and one of the local ravens passed cronking overhead.
The back path was quiet save for some calling treecreepers and another buzzard to two. Lots of coal tits were calling from the pines on the long straight. Great spotted woodpeckers were drumming and calling, as were green wooodpeckers.
I then took a side path and came across a lovely mixed feeding flock - several goldcrests, blue tits, goldfinches, reed buntings, chaffinches, robins and wrens. A good way to finish.
Sunday, 22 March 2015
Saturday, 21 March 2015
Ouse Estuary Project / Newhaven Tidemills / Seaford Head / Weirwood Reservoir
Saturday 21st March (37 species - 109 for year)
A biting Northerly win continued to make birding difficult today, as I did a quick tour of local Sussex birding sides.
I started off at the Ouse Estuary Project where a richards pipit has been reported for the last week. I eventually found the right spot and waited, but alas it was to be my second dip of the weekend (the bird was spotted later that morning when sadly it apparently fell victim to the local sparrowhawk!). Little else of note, bar a number of redwings obviously waiting to start their migration.
I moved on to Newhaven Tidemills, which was dead. Too many dog walkers I fear. Dog mess everywhere as well. Only birds of note were a pair of stonechats
Next stop was Seaford Head, where it was great to see lots of kittiwakes and several fulmar nesting on cliffs. As I returned to the car, a rock pipit appeared on the breakwater.
My last stop was Weirwood Reservoir, hoping for an early osprey perhaps. The first birds I saw were a pair of mandarin ducks swimming just in front of the viewpoint. Lots of tits & finches on the feeders, though sadly not one of the resident pair of marsh tits. The heronry looked busy though with a number of birds on their nests.
The cold wind and a steady drizzle beat me, so I made tracks for home.
A biting Northerly win continued to make birding difficult today, as I did a quick tour of local Sussex birding sides.
I started off at the Ouse Estuary Project where a richards pipit has been reported for the last week. I eventually found the right spot and waited, but alas it was to be my second dip of the weekend (the bird was spotted later that morning when sadly it apparently fell victim to the local sparrowhawk!). Little else of note, bar a number of redwings obviously waiting to start their migration.
I moved on to Newhaven Tidemills, which was dead. Too many dog walkers I fear. Dog mess everywhere as well. Only birds of note were a pair of stonechats
Next stop was Seaford Head, where it was great to see lots of kittiwakes and several fulmar nesting on cliffs. As I returned to the car, a rock pipit appeared on the breakwater.
My last stop was Weirwood Reservoir, hoping for an early osprey perhaps. The first birds I saw were a pair of mandarin ducks swimming just in front of the viewpoint. Lots of tits & finches on the feeders, though sadly not one of the resident pair of marsh tits. The heronry looked busy though with a number of birds on their nests.
The cold wind and a steady drizzle beat me, so I made tracks for home.
Friday, 20 March 2015
Dungeness / Rye Harbour / Pett Level
Friday 20th March (71 species - 105 for year)
The solar eclipse missed me completely today as I birded a murky & chilly Dungeness & Rye.
I started out at RSPB Dungeness. The ARC pit was quiet - a single marsh harrier, several goldeneye & a calling cettis warbler. The feeders at the entrance to the RSPB reserve held several tree sparrow. Burrowes Pit was quiet, so I headed off around the reserve. I soon spotted one of the great white egrets on Dengemarsh, and whilst I had him in my scope a bittern flew into the reeds behind. This was more like it! I was then treated to a stoat running up the path ahead of me, frequently turning around to look at me. Not much else on the reserve, but a pair of marsh harrier were a lovely sight.
I then spent about an hour around Brickwall Farm looking for the long staying cattle egrets. Despite being seen an hour earlier, they stayed hidden for me, so I decided to cut my losses and head over to Rye Harbour.
It was high tide, so lots of waders were on the Flat Beach, including several year ticks for me - avocet, ringed plover, grey plover & oystercatcher among them. Six brent geese were also a welcome sight. No early wheatear at the river entrance,, but four bar tailed godwit were on the beach and a few turnstone were on the seawall. Ternery Hide delivered its expected sandwich terns, then it was pretty quiet for the rest of the reserve until I reached Ray Parkes Hide, where I picked out a pair of fine breeding plumage mediterranean gulls to add to the great black backed gulls I'd picked up earlier. A raven flying along the beach was a new Rye Harbour bird for me,
Before heading home, I dropped into Pett Level. Nothing new, but a large group of brent geese were in the sheep fields and several curlew in the rock pools as it was low tide.
A good day!
The solar eclipse missed me completely today as I birded a murky & chilly Dungeness & Rye.
I started out at RSPB Dungeness. The ARC pit was quiet - a single marsh harrier, several goldeneye & a calling cettis warbler. The feeders at the entrance to the RSPB reserve held several tree sparrow. Burrowes Pit was quiet, so I headed off around the reserve. I soon spotted one of the great white egrets on Dengemarsh, and whilst I had him in my scope a bittern flew into the reeds behind. This was more like it! I was then treated to a stoat running up the path ahead of me, frequently turning around to look at me. Not much else on the reserve, but a pair of marsh harrier were a lovely sight.
I then spent about an hour around Brickwall Farm looking for the long staying cattle egrets. Despite being seen an hour earlier, they stayed hidden for me, so I decided to cut my losses and head over to Rye Harbour.
It was high tide, so lots of waders were on the Flat Beach, including several year ticks for me - avocet, ringed plover, grey plover & oystercatcher among them. Six brent geese were also a welcome sight. No early wheatear at the river entrance,, but four bar tailed godwit were on the beach and a few turnstone were on the seawall. Ternery Hide delivered its expected sandwich terns, then it was pretty quiet for the rest of the reserve until I reached Ray Parkes Hide, where I picked out a pair of fine breeding plumage mediterranean gulls to add to the great black backed gulls I'd picked up earlier. A raven flying along the beach was a new Rye Harbour bird for me,
Before heading home, I dropped into Pett Level. Nothing new, but a large group of brent geese were in the sheep fields and several curlew in the rock pools as it was low tide.
A good day!
Sunday, 15 March 2015
RSPB Otmoor
Sunday 15th March (60 species - 93 for year)
The cold weather continued into Sunday with a visit to RSPB Otmoor - one of my favourite local birding spots. There's always some nice birds to be seen here.
As I left the car park, a pair of bullfinch flew across in front of me. In the first field, lapwings were already displaying and nest building.
As I made my way down to Greenaways, several reed bunting were feeding by gate. Careful scanning revealed several redshank and a single curlew. As I headed along the bridle path, I caught a tantalising glimpse of a large raptor before it dipped back into the reedbed. A few minutes later, it revealed itself as a stunning female marsh harrier, always a lovely bird to see.
The RSPB have spread seed on the track by the hide attracting large numbers of finches, buntings and a few stick dove. Among them were a few linnets. From the hide, a buzzard gave close views, whilst a large flock of geese in the distance held feral bar headed goose and ross goose.
The marsh harrier was soon back and scattering the waders, including a small flock of golden plover with a single dunlin. Careful scanning of the same field revealed a number of pintail swimming on a pool at the back.
Not a lot to see on the walk to the two screens, though a calling water rail was my first for the year. Two birders also showed me a photo they'd taken of a mink, which are never welcome.
The walk back to the car was quiet bar a hunting kestrel.
My last year tick was on my drive home when a red legged partridge decided at the last second not to commit suicide by running in front of my car.
The cold weather continued into Sunday with a visit to RSPB Otmoor - one of my favourite local birding spots. There's always some nice birds to be seen here.
As I left the car park, a pair of bullfinch flew across in front of me. In the first field, lapwings were already displaying and nest building.
As I made my way down to Greenaways, several reed bunting were feeding by gate. Careful scanning revealed several redshank and a single curlew. As I headed along the bridle path, I caught a tantalising glimpse of a large raptor before it dipped back into the reedbed. A few minutes later, it revealed itself as a stunning female marsh harrier, always a lovely bird to see.
The RSPB have spread seed on the track by the hide attracting large numbers of finches, buntings and a few stick dove. Among them were a few linnets. From the hide, a buzzard gave close views, whilst a large flock of geese in the distance held feral bar headed goose and ross goose.
The marsh harrier was soon back and scattering the waders, including a small flock of golden plover with a single dunlin. Careful scanning of the same field revealed a number of pintail swimming on a pool at the back.
Not a lot to see on the walk to the two screens, though a calling water rail was my first for the year. Two birders also showed me a photo they'd taken of a mink, which are never welcome.
The walk back to the car was quiet bar a hunting kestrel.
My last year tick was on my drive home when a red legged partridge decided at the last second not to commit suicide by running in front of my car.
Stockers Lake
Saturday 14th February (48 species - 83 for year)
The previous week, we had been bird watching in temperatures of 20°C & over on a trip to Portugal (which I will create a separate blog post for). Yesterday, it was a little over freezing as I made my second return of the year to Stockers Lake.
I'd been drawn by reports of a drumming lesser spotted woodpecker. I arrived to find a dozen birdwatchers already in situ. Over the course of the next two hours, we heard it calling twice and also a brief drumming, but sadly no sighting. It sounds fairly well established, so a return visit is in order.
The visit also saw three other year ticks. A calling chiffchaff was on the road down to the sailing club, whilst on Stockers Farm flooded field, a snipe was to be found. A stock dove was also in the woodpecker oak.
Other highlights were several goldeneye plus three Egyptian geese.
The previous week, we had been bird watching in temperatures of 20°C & over on a trip to Portugal (which I will create a separate blog post for). Yesterday, it was a little over freezing as I made my second return of the year to Stockers Lake.
I'd been drawn by reports of a drumming lesser spotted woodpecker. I arrived to find a dozen birdwatchers already in situ. Over the course of the next two hours, we heard it calling twice and also a brief drumming, but sadly no sighting. It sounds fairly well established, so a return visit is in order.
The visit also saw three other year ticks. A calling chiffchaff was on the road down to the sailing club, whilst on Stockers Farm flooded field, a snipe was to be found. A stock dove was also in the woodpecker oak.
Other highlights were several goldeneye plus three Egyptian geese.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)